Antoninus of Syracuse

Holy Martyr Antoninus of Syracuse is commemorated together with the martyrs Andrew, John and John's sons, Peter and Antoninus. They suffered in the ninth century, in the time of the cruel rule of Ibrahim in Africa. They are commemorated on 6 October.

After the capture and destruction of the Sicilian city of Syracuse, Ibrahim took into captivity Saint John and his two sons, Peter and Antoninus, led them to Africa and forced them to learn Arabic and the sciences. As the young men grew, Ibrahim came to love them so much for their wisdom and pure life that he called Antoninus his relative, and made Peter chief officer of his household. But learning that the young men secretly confessed faith in Christ, he was filled with fury and ordered them put in iron stocks and beaten with knotted staves. After the long beating, Saint Antoninus was set on a donkey and, bound, led through the city, beaten and mocked; the martyr bore all and gave thanks to God. Saint Peter, after the beating, was thrown into prison. Their father, John, was brought and stabbed in the throat by Ibrahim with a knife. His body was thrown to the bodies of his children, and all were burned on a great pyre. The old man Andrew was left long hungry, then pierced with a spear in the chest; when he gave thanks in prayer to God, he was pierced a second time, and then his head was cut off with a sword.